144. Shamefacedness

1. Shamefacedness is a recoil from what is disgraceful; itis a drawing or shrinking back from what is base. In a broad sense,shamefacedness is a virtue. But, more strictly, it is to be calleda praiseworthy passion, and not a virtue. It lacks the fullperfection of a habit steadily inclining the will to good.

2. Shamefacedness has to do with action. It is not shamefor the disgrace inherent in a vicious habit, but for the disgracefeared as the result of a bad deed contemplated or alreadyperformed. It is the shrinking from deserved reproach or ignominyfor something vile that is proposed for doing, or for a vile thingalready done.

3. A man is more likely to fear and to feel shame beforethose who are closest to him (his relatives, friends, andacquaintances), than before strangers. People unknown to a person,people in whose society he does not regularly move, inspire smallshame; disgrace suffered before the eyes of strangers is quicklyforgotten.

4. A man may become so immersed in evil that he losesshame, and may even boast of doing what is shameful. There areothers in whom a lack of shame is not disgraceful, that is, peopleof sound virtue and aged people; these lack shame, not as by adeficiency, but they regard any shameful action as something soremote from themselves as to be negligible and worthy of no thoughtor concern. Of course, these persons are so disposed that if (by awell-nigh impossible supposition) they were to do a disgracefulthing, they would be ashamed of it.

"God gives us some things, as the beginning of faith, even when we do not pray. Other things, such as perseverance, he has only provided for those who pray." St Augustine

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"It is well to choose some one good devotion, and to stick to it, and never to abandon it." St Philip Neri

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"The name of Jesus, pronounced with reverence and affection, has a kind of power to soften the heart. " St Philip Neri